Politico has an excellent overview of the coming nominees for the incoming Administration’s cabinet positions.
Week of Jan. 9
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Nominee: Ben Carson
Background: Retired neurosurgeon, former GOP primary rival
Committee: Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
Confirmation Hearings: Sen. Mike Crapo is planning to hold a hearing next week
Recent Politico Coverage:
- Trump picks Ben Carson to be HUD secretary
- Carson’s nonexistent governing experience? Not a problem
- Ben Carson: My mom kept us out of public housing to avoid ‘danger’
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Tuesday, Jan. 10
Attorney General
Nominee: Sen. Jeff Sessions
Background: Alabama Republican Congressman
Committee: Senate Judiciary
Confirmation Hearings: Jan. 10 and 11. More here.
Recent Politico Coverage:
- Sessions looks like a lock for confirmation
- 7 big areas where Jeff Sessions could change policy at DOJ
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Wednesday, Jan. 11
Secretary of Education
Nominee: Betsy DeVos
Background: Billionaire, philanthropist, Republican megadonor
Committee: Senate HELP
Confirmation hearings: Jan. 11 at 10 a.m. More here.
Recent Politico Coverage:
- Trump selects DeVos as Education secretary
- Senate Democrats to portray DeVos as public school enemy
- DeVos heads into confirmation with a megadonor’s advantage
Secretary of Transportation
Nominee: Elaine Chao
Background: Former Labor Secretary under the George W. Bush administration, deputy secretary of transportation under President George H.W. Bush, member of Trump’s Asian Pacific American Advisory Council for the campaign, married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)
Committee: Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation
Confirmation Hearings: Jan. 11 10:15 a.m. More here.
Recent Politico Coverage:
Secretary of Homeland Security
Nominee: John Kelly
Background: Retired Marine general, former U.S. Southern Command chief
Committee: Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Confirmation hearings: Jan. 11 at 2 p.m. More here.
Recent Politico Coverage:
- Trump officially picks John Kelly to lead DHS
- Trump’s DHS pick could be a ‘force for moderation’
- Why Trump is so obsessed with generals
Secretary of State
Nominee: Rex Tillerson
Background: CEO of Exxon Mobil
Committee: Senate Foreign Relations
Confirmation Hearings: Jan. 11
Recent Politico Coverage:
- Trump taps Tillerson for secretary of state
- Why Trump picked Rex Tillerson
- Tillerson to face off with McCain this week
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Thursday, Jan. 12
Secretary of Commerce
Nominee: Wilbur Ross
Background: Billionaire private-equity investor, founder of the private equity firm WL Ross & Co.
Committee: Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation
Confirmation Hearings: Jan. 12 at 10:00 a.m. More here.
Recent Politico Coverage:
- Trump to pick billionaire Wilbur Ross as Commerce secretary
- Wilbur Ross’ questionnaire reveals little on potential conflicts of interest
- Wilbur Ross’s Chinese Love Affair
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Week of Jan. 16 and beyond
Secretary of Labor
Nominee: Andy Puzder
Background: CEO of CKE Restaurants, which include the Carl’s Jr. fast food chain
Committee: Senate HELP
Confirmation Hearings: The week of Jan. 16
Recent Politico Coverage:
- Trump chooses Puzder as labor secretary
- The hidden powers Andy Puzder would hold at the Department of Labor
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Nominee: Rep. Tom Price
Background: Georgia Republican Congressman, House Budget Chairman
Committee: Senate Finance
Confirmation Hearings: TBD, the HELP Committee is tentatively set to hold a confirmation hearing on Jan. 18.
Recent Politico Coverage:
Secretary of Treasury
Nominee: Steven Mnuchin
Background: Former Goldman Sachs executive, Trump’s national finance chair for the campaign
Committee: Senate Finance
Confirmation Hearings: TBD
Recent Politico Coverage:
- Trump to pick Mnuchin for Treasury secretary
- 4 big areas where Steven Mnuchin could change policy at Treasury
- America’s New Dealmakers-in-Chief
Secretary of Defense
Nominee: James Mattis
Background: Retired U.S. Marine Corps general
Committee: Senate Armed Services
Confirmation Hearings: TBD
Recent Politico Coverage:
- Trump picks General ‘Mad Dog’ Mattis as defense secretary
- Democrats talk up the one Trump nomination they can torpedo
- Hagel worries Mattis might eclipse Joint Chiefs
- 9 unforgettable quotes by James Mattis
Secretary of Interior
Nominee: Rep. Ryan Zinke
Background: Montana Republican Congressman, former U.S. Navy SEAL commander
Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Confirmation hearings: TBD
Secretary of Energy
Nominee: Rick Perry
Background: Former governor of Texas
Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Confirmation hearing: TBD
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator
Nominee: Scott Pruitt
Background: Oklahoma Attorney General
Committee: Senate Environment and Public Works
Confirmation Hearings: TBD
Ambassador to the United Nations
Nominee: Nikki Haley
Background: Governor of South Carolina
Committee: Senate Foreign Relations
Confirmation hearings: TBD
Director of the Office of Management and Budget
Nominee: Rep. Mick Mulvaney
Background: South Carolina Republican Congressman
Committee: Senate Budget and Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Confirmation hearings: TBD
U.S. Trade Representative
Nominee: Robert Lighthizer
Background: Trade attorney, former deputy USTR under President Ronald Reagan
Committee: Senate Finance
Confirmation hearing: TBD